_Bog_River%2C_St_Lawrence_Co%2C_N_Y%2C_July%2C_1912.jpeg&width=800)
Big Water Crayfish
ExploreInvertebrate
Big Water Crayfish
cambarus robustus
The Big Water Crayfish is a fun and colorful creature that loves to hide under rocks in streams! They're great at cleaning up the water by eating dead plants and animals.
Habitat: Freshwater rivers and streams, often hiding under rocks and logs.
Appearance
The Big Water Crayfish has a robust, dark brown to olive body, often with reddish tints, and can grow quite large. It is easily recognized by its powerful, often reddish-tipped claws that are proportionally bigger than other crayfish species.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassMalacostracaOrderDecapodaFamilyCambaridaeGenusCambarus
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Crayfish blood is colorless until it touches air, then it dramatically turns blue!
Some crayfish eat their own molted shells to regain lost calcium and nutrients!
They build elaborate burrows in mud, sometimes with multiple escape tunnels for safety!
They walk forward, but can swim backwards incredibly fast with a powerful tail flip!
Special abilities
Ability
Regenerative Power
Big Water Crayfish can regrow lost claws or legs because of their incredible regenerative cells that help them recover from injuries.
Ability
Pincer Strength
Big Water Crayfish has strong claws that help them crush small prey, defend against predators, and even dig burrows effectively.
Ability
Tail Flip Escape
Big Water Crayfish can quickly arch and snap their tails because this rapid movement propels them backwards to escape danger fast.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 10-18 cm
- Weight
- 50-150 g
- Lifespan
- 3-7 years
Diet & Feeding
This omnivore eats almost anything it finds, from plants to tiny creatures and decaying bits!
Primary Foods
- algae
- aquatic plants
- insect larvae
- small fish
- detritus
- snails
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
A favorite food for river otters.
eaten by
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
A primary prey item for large bass.
eaten by
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Raccoons often hunt them along water edges.
eats
Midge larvae
Chironomus plumosus
Consumes many types of aquatic insect larvae.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Freshwater
Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always wash your hands after touching any wild creature.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Big Water Crayfish?
10-18 cm
How much does Big Water Crayfish weigh?
50-150 g
How long does Big Water Crayfish live?
3-7 years
What does Big Water Crayfish eat?
This omnivore eats almost anything it finds, from plants to tiny creatures and decaying bits!
Where is Big Water Crayfish usually found?
Freshwater rivers and streams, often hiding under rocks and logs.
How does Big Water Crayfish hunt?
Foraging
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
